Boy's Own Stories. By Ascott R. Hope. (T. Fisher Unwin.)—Mr.
Ascott Hope's stories deserve the appreciation from "more thoughtful youngsters" which, while modestly disclaiming competition with sen- sational fiction, he asks for them. His idea has been to take auto- biographical sketches of boyish adventures or experiences, and to put them, if there was need, into shape suitable for his readers. There are nine stories in all. The first is that of the two brothers of Louis Philippe, the Due de Montpensier and the Comte de Beau- jolais, who were arrested when their father had fallen into disgrace. The second contains some early experiences of Charles Nodier during the Reign of Terror, interesting enough, but, as Mr. Hope points out, strongly coloured by the imagination of the writer. Then, for a variety, we are taken to Nootka Sound, and the record of John R. Hewitt amongst the Indians, a record originally written in ink made out of blackberry-juice, with quills from the wings of ravens. An odious episode in English history, the attacks on Bergen-op-Zoom (we keep our defeats out of sight) is illustrated from the account given of his adventure by one Moodie, a subaltern in the 21st Fusiliers. Mr. Hope has chosen his subjects well, and made a most pleasant and, we may say, instructive volume out of them.
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